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Dolphins’ Lamar Miller: I’m one of the best running backs in the NFL

Dolphins running back Lamar Miller runs over Giants free safety Landon Collins for his second touchdown of the first half (Bill Ingram / The Palm Beach Post)

Dolphins running back Lamar Miller — who has been grounded by his own team the last two weeks — isn’t sure if he’ll be in Miami beyond these final games.

Wherever he plays next season, Miller believes he’s up there with any running back in the NFL.

“My numbers speak for itself,” Miller said. “I feel like once I get the opportunity I make plays and I feel like I’m one of the best running backs in this league.”

Miller’s 4.9 yards per carry is sixth-best among NFL running backs but his 160 carries rank just 23rd in the league.

That gives him 781 rushing yards, 14th-best in the NFL. He’s hoping to rush for 1,000 yards for the second consecutive season.

In a Week 14 loss to the Giants, Miller was dominant in the first half, rushing for 69 yards on seven carries and two touchdowns.

But he had just five carries in the second half. Interim coach Dan Campbell said he held Miller back because of an ankle injury.

Miller said he was fine and merely needed his ankles taped.

In last week’s loss to the Charges, Miller struggled in the first half with seven carries for 11 yards.

Campbell didn’t give Miller a chance to get it going in the second half.

He had just two carries early in the third quarter and Campbell elected to roll with rookie Jay Ajayi, who finished with six carries for 27 yards and a touchdown.

Several former players have been so baffled by Miller’s lack of carries in the second half of the last two games that they’ve speculated the team is limiting his carries to keep him under 1,000 yards so they can low ball him in free agency or they’re giving Ajayi more experience because they’re not planning to bring Miller back.

Miller said he doesn’t know if any of that is true or not.

“I’m not really sure,” he said. “This offseason I’m going to sit down, think about it. See who we bring in. I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about it.”

Miller plans to weigh numerous factors but he said winning is the No. 1 objective whether it’s with the Dolphins or elsewhere.

He’s never made the playoffs in his four years with the Dolphins and it won’t happen this season — the Dolphins are currently at 5-9.

He never even reached an ACC title game at the University of Miami before the Dolphins selected him in the fourth-round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

“I just want to be with a team that’s winning,” he said. “Growing up I never really won any state championships. I just want to be in the best situation to help this team and try to get a ring. That’s the most important thing.

Ajayi, Miami’s fifth-round draft choice this year, missed the first seven games of the season after breaking a rib in the preseason.

He has 33 rushes for 162 yards and a touchdown this season.

Ajayi, who at Boise State became the first player in NCAA history with at least 1,800 rushing yards and 500 rushing yards in a season, has a lot of upside.

But he dropped in the draft because of a lack of cartilage in his knee that could have long term effects. It’s not expected to slow him down over the next few seasons.

If the Dolphins don’t re-sign Miller, they could make Ajayi the lead back next year and then draft another player or sign a cheap free agent to complement him.

Ajayi said he’s ready to be the No. 1 back if Miller isn’t back.

“Absolutely,” Ajayi said. “I’ve prepared myself in that way but I’m not too worried about that right now. I’m just focused on finishing the season strong Whatever happens after that, we’ll take it from there.”

Center Mike Pouncey said he likes what he’s seen from Ajayi but he hopes the Dolphins re-sign Miller.

“Lamar is a hell of a football player,” Pouncey said “Obviously he’s been productive in two or three different offenses here and I’d love to see him back here. We all would.

“I hope we keep both of them for a long time. Jay, he’s a really good runner, a downhill runner. I think him and Lamar complement each other really well. Lamar’s more of a patient kind of speed back. Jay is more of a downhill power back.”

Pouncey said Miller has had a “tremendous season” and the offensive line hopes it can help Miller reach 1,000 yards.

Miller will need to average 110 yards in the last two games but there’s no telling how many carries he will receive.

Miller’s only had more than 110 yards in three game this season, including a Week 13 win against Baltimore when he had a season-high 20 carries for 113 yards.

“When you look at his yards per carry, he’s done a great job,” Pouncey said. “Hopefully we can get him over 1,000 yards these last two games because I think he really deserves it.”

Miller said it’s been an “up-and-down” season.

“I’ve just got to continue to get better as a player, try to take my overall game to the next level, try to be an elite player in this league,” he said.

“I think I’ve been doing a good job with just making plays in the passing game when I get the opportunity. I’m just trying show everybody that I’m a complete back and can do everything.”